Vehicle-spring.



S. K. PLANK.

VEHICLE SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I1. 1916.

1,227,307. v Patented May 22, 1917.

SQ LAN K- SAMUEL K. PLANK, on iioi siro v, inxns.

earner.

To all whom it may concern." i

Be it known that I, SAMUEL K. PLANK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Springs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to vehicle springs, and more particularly to an elliptical vehicle spring wherein the inner leaf is formed of one continuous piece, and has its ends curved inwardly into the ellipse formed by the spring and also to form a substantially oblong portion whereby the upper section of the elliptical spring may move longitudinally independent of the lower section of the spring, or vice versa, and also to position the oblong portion and the curved portions of the ends of the inner leaf of the spring so that they will engage the inner surface of the inner leaf and limit the compressing movement of the spring.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view this invention consists in such novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and claimed In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters designate like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle spring constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the inner leaf of a vehicle spring constructed in accordance with this invention, and

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a semi-elliptical spring constructed in accordance with this invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 designates the vehicle spring as an entirety, which is composed of a plurality of leaves 2, as is ordinary in the construction of elliptical vehicle springs. The inner leaf 3 of the vehicle spring structure is constructed of a single piece of spring steel, having its ends welded to form one contin o s p ece as clearly shown in Fig. 2-

Application filed June 17, sle Serial n6, impa rs q Specification of seats "Patented May 22,19 1.

i' KI'Hi 1?? i Y 3, which form L thel ends of I the elliptical spring 1 are rolled or curved inwardly as shown "at l," and they are curved inwardly in'to the ellipse formed by the spring, and

further curved upwardly and downwardly as clearly shown at 5 to form loops or substantially oval-shaped portions 6, the ends of which extend toward and face portions of the innersurface of the leaf 3.

The inner leaf 3 being constructed of spring steel will permit the upper section 7 of the elliptical spring 1 to move longitudinally a limited distance independent of of the drawingfi-Tl he portions of the inner movement of the lower section 8, or vice versa. 1

The rolled or curved portions 4 of the inner leaf 3 face each other and are slightly spaced as clearly shown in the drawing. Upon depression of the spring, these facing portions will, by engagement with each other tend to limit the compression movement of the sections 7 and 8 of the spring which compressing movement will further be limited by the engagement of the ends of the substantially oval portion 5 with the inner surface of portions of the inner leaf 3.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing a modified form of the invention is shown which includes a semi-elliptical spring leaf 20 which is constructed for use upon particular types of vehicles and which has its ends rolled as shown-at 21 in an identical manner of the rolling or curving of the ends 4 of the inner leaf 3 and a semi-loop or oval-shaped portion 22 is provided. The action of the semielliptical spring leaf 20 is identical with the action of one-half of the leaf 3. The modified form of the spring leaf may be attached to a vehicle in any of'the ordinary manners employed in mounting semi-elliptical springs.

In reducing. the invention to practice, certain minor features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may necessitate alterations to which the patentee is entitled provided such alterations are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed. I

What is claimed is In an elliptical vehicle spring structure, an innermost leaf formed of a single piece of spring steel having its ends connected, the portions of said innermost leaf forming the end of the-elliptical spring being curved inwardly into the ellipse formed. by the spring, said curved portions being spaced from each other for engagement upon compression of the spring for retarding the compressing movement of the spring, the said portions of said inner leaf being further bent to form a loop positioned inwardly of the ellipse formed by the spring, whereby one section of the elliptical spring will be permitted a limited longitudinal movement independent of the other section, the ends of said looped portions adapt- In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

SAMUEL K. PLANK.

Witnesses:

VALTER F. BROWN T. H. BELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of yatexits;

- Washington, D. 0. 

